Possible Drug Use Investigated in Fatal Wyoming Crash

A South Dakota woman is dead after her vehicle reportedly "vaulted" approximately 140 feet through the air, coming to rest on its roof near Newcastle in northeastern Wyoming.

Stephonie Pesicka, 50, died at Weston County Hospital following the crash, which occurred at 8 a.m. Monday.

According to a crash report from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, witnesses said Pesicka's vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. Highway 16 near milepost 250, when Pesicka evidently tried to avoid a slower vehicle which had just pulled out onto the highway.

Pesicka reportedly steered around to pass the slower vehicle and, for unknown reasons, her vehicle drifted off the roadway to the right.

The vehicle then traveled through the north barrow ditch before hitting the leading edge of a road approach, which caused the vehicle to "vault" approximately 140 feet through the air before crashing through some pine trees.

The vehicle came to rest on its roof. Pesicka was not properly restrained.